Surgical switch mode power supply and surgical DC power tool

Abstract

In order to improve a surgical DC power tool such that it can be operated, where applicable, under sterile conditions, in particular, using conventional DC voltage supplies, a surgical switch mode power supply for a surgical DC power tool is provided. The switch mode power supply includes a switch mode power supply circuit arrangement, a switch mode power supply housing and a circuit receptacle formed in the housing of the switch mode power supply for accommodating the circuit arrangement of the switch mode power supply. The housing of the switch mode power supply has a switch mode power supply interface which is designed in such a manner that it can be brought into engagement with and/or connected to an interface of the DC power tool provided for a mains-independent energy source. Furthermore, an improved surgical DC power tool having such a power supply is provided.

1. Surgical switch mode power supply for converting a surgical DC power tool to run on AC power, comprising:
 a switch mode power supply circuit arrangement adapted to be connected to an AC power source, 
 a switch mode power supply housing, 
 a circuit receptacle formed in the housing of the switch mode power supply for accommodating the circuit arrangement of the switch mode power supply, and 
 a switch mode power supply interface disposed on the housing and adapted to directly abut and engage with an interface of the DC power tool which is provided for a mains-independent energy source, 
 wherein the surgical switch mode power supply is adapted to be removably inserted into an energy supply receptacle of the DC power tool, the surgical switch mode power supply interface engaging with the interface of the DC power tool within the receptacle. 
 
     
     
       2. Surgical switch mode power supply as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the interface of the switch mode power supply is connectable to the interface of the DC power tool at least one of electrically and mechanically. 
     
     
       3. Surgical switch mode power supply as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the switch mode power supply is adapted to be inserted completely into the energy supply receptacle. 
     
     
       4. Surgical switch mode power supply as defined in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the housing of the switch mode power supply has a switch mode power supply housing opening, 
 the circuit arrangement of the switch mode power supply being insertable through said opening into the circuit receptacle, and 
 the housing of the switch mode power supply comprises a switch mode power supply housing cover for closing the housing opening of the switch mode power supply. 
 
     
     
       5. Surgical switch mode power supply as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the housing of the switch mode power supply is adapted to be sterilized by steam. 
     
     
       6. Surgical switch mode power supply as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the housing of the switch mode power supply is produced from at least one plastic material. 
     
     
       7. Surgical switch mode power supply as defined in  claim 1 , wherein at least one seal is provided for a fluid-tight sealing of the circuit receptacle. 
     
     
       8. Surgical switch mode power supply as defined in  claim 7 , wherein the at least one seal is arranged on the housing of the switch mode power supply so as to surround a housing opening of the switch mode power supply housing. 
     
     
       9. Surgical switch mode power supply as defined in  claim 8 , wherein the at least one seal is arranged in such a manner that it seals the housing of the switch mode power supply and a housing cover of the switch mode power supply relative to one another when the housing cover of the switch mode power supply closes the housing opening of the switch mode power supply. 
     
     
       10. Surgical switch mode power supply as defined in  claim 7 , wherein the at least one seal is arranged in such a manner that it seals the housing of the switch mode power supply relative to a housing of a surgical DC power tool or an energy supply receptacle of the housing. 
     
     
       11. Surgical switch mode power supply as defined in  claim 1 , wherein first electrical contacts are provided on the housing of the switch mode power supply for connecting the circuit arrangement of the switch mode power supply to a DC power consumer of the surgical DC power tool. 
     
     
       12. Surgical switch mode power supply as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the first electrical contacts are arranged on a housing cover of the switch mode power supply. 
     
     
       13. Surgical switch mode power supply as defined in  claim 1 , wherein second electrical contacts are provided on the housing of the switch mode power supply for the connection to third electrical contacts of a mains connection line or for the connection to fourth electrical contacts of a housing cover of the surgical DC power tool. 
     
     
       14. Surgical switch mode power supply as defined in  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the first electrical contacts, the second electrical contacts, the third electrical contacts, the fourth electrical contacts, mains connection contacts for the direct or indirect connection to an AC voltage energy supply and DC connection contacts for the direct or indirect connection to a DC power tool or a DC consumer comprise electrical plug connectors. 
     
     
       15. Surgical switch mode power supply as defined in  claim 1 , wherein:
 a mains connection line is provided, 
 said connection line is guided out of the housing of the switch mode power supply and is connected non-detachably to the housing, and 
 the connection line is connected electrically to the circuit arrangement of the switch mode power supply. 
 
     
     
       16. Surgical switch mode power supply as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the circuit arrangement of the switch mode power supply is adapted to be sterilized. 
     
     
       17. Surgical switch mode power supply as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the circuit arrangement of the switch mode power supply is cast into a sterilizable plastic material. 
     
     
       18. Surgical switch mode power supply as defined in  claim 17 , wherein the plastic material is an epoxy resin. 
     
     
       19. Surgical switch mode power supply as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the circuit arrangement of the switch mode power supply and the housing of the switch mode power supply are connected non-detachably to one another. 
     
     
       20. Surgical switch mode power supply as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the circuit arrangement of the switch mode power supply is surrounded by a moisture-repellant membrane. 
     
     
       21. Surgical switch mode power supply as defined in  claim 1 , wherein a DC consumer control and/or regulating circuit is provided, said circuit being surrounded at least partially by the housing of the switch mode power supply. 
     
     
       22. Surgical switch mode power supply as defined in  claim 21 , wherein the circuit arrangement of the switch mode power supply comprises the DC consumer control and/or regulating circuit. 
     
     
       23. Surgical switch mode power supply as defined in  claim 1 , wherein an insertion aid is provided for insertion of the circuit arrangement of the switch mode power supply into the housing of the switch mode power supply. 
     
     
       24. Surgical switch mode power supply as defined in  claim 23 , wherein the insertion aid is of a funnel-shaped design. 
     
     
       25. Surgical switch mode power supply as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the circuit arrangement of the switch mode power supply comprises a rectifier circuit for converting an AC voltage into a DC voltage. 
     
     
       26. Surgical switch mode power supply as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the circuit arrangement of the switch mode power supply has mains connection contacts for direct or indirect connection to an AC voltage energy supply and DC connection contacts for direct or indirect connection to the DC power tool or a DC consumer thereof. 
     
     
       27. Surgical DC power tool comprising:
 a housing, 
 a DC power consumer accommodated in the housing, 
 an interface for a mains-independent energy source, 
 a surgical switch mode power supply for converting the surgical DC power tool to run on AC power, said power supply comprising:
 a switch mode power supply circuit arrangement adapted to be connected to an AC power source, 
 a switch mode power supply housing, 
 a circuit receptacle formed in the housing of the switch mode power supply for accommodating the circuit arrangement of the switch mode power supply, and 
 a switch mode power supply interface disposed on the switch mode power supply housing adapted to directly abut and engage with the interface of the DC power tool provided for the mains-independent energy source, 
 wherein the surgical switch mode power supply is adapted to be removably inserted into an energy supply receptacle of the DC power tool, the surgical switch mode power supply interface engaging with the interface of the DC power tool within the receptacle. 
 
 
     
     
       28. Surgical DC power tool as defined in  claim 27 , wherein the interface of the switch mode power supply is connectable to the interface of the DC power tool at least one of electrically and mechanically. 
     
     
       29. Surgical DC power tool as defined in  claim 27 , wherein the surgical switch mode power supply is insertable completely into the energy supply receptacle. 
     
     
       30. Surgical DC power tool as defined in  claim 27 , wherein the interface of the surgical switch mode power supply is arranged at or in the energy supply receptacle. 
     
     
       31. Surgical DC power tool as defined in  claim 27 , wherein the DC power tool comprises a housing cover for closing the energy supply receptacle. 
     
     
       32. Surgical DC power tool as defined in  claim 31 , wherein at least one part of the housing of the switch mode power supply forms the housing cover. 
     
     
       33. Surgical DC power tool as defined in  claim 31 , wherein electrical connection contacts are provided on the housing cover, said contacts being connectable directly or indirectly to the surgical switch mode power supply on an inner side of the housing cover and to a mains connection line on an outer side of the cover. 
     
     
       34. Surgical DC power tool as defined in  claim 27 , wherein a mains connection line is provided for a detachable connection of the DC power tool to an AC voltage energy supply. 
     
     
       35. Surgical DC power tool as defined in  claim 27 , wherein the DC power consumer is a DC electric motor. 
     
     
       36. Surgical DC power tool as defined in  claim 27 , wherein the surgical DC power tool is a surgical drill or a surgical saw.